Grey Arches
Polia nebulosa
This record describes Polia nebulosa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 45 to 55 mm. This species ranges in ground colour from creamy-white to dark brown or blackish. The palest forms tend to occur more north and west. The adults emerge in June and July and can be attracted to light and to sugar. The larvae feed in the autumn on low herbaceous plants, and then after hibernation in the spring on buds and leaves of trees such as birch and willow. Reasonably common throughout much of the British Isles. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Polia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupying mainly woodland habitat.
Seasonal Activity
The adults emerge in June and July and can be attracted to light and to sugar.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in the autumn on low herbaceous plants, and then after hibernation in the spring on buds and leaves of trees such as birch and willow.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Reasonably common throughout much of the British Isles. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Polia nebulosa. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Grey Arches (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Grey Arches
What is Grey Arches?
Grey Arches (Polia nebulosa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Grey Arches found?
Habitat: Occupying mainly woodland habitat.
When is Grey Arches active?
Grey Arches: seasonal activity - The adults emerge in June and July and can be attracted to light and to sugar..
What is the life cycle of a Grey Arches?
The larvae feed in the autumn on low herbaceous plants, and then after hibernation in the spring on buds and leaves of trees such as birch and willow.